Businessman Is Awaiting Sentencing

South Carolina Man Could Receive Probation, If He Begins Restitution

November 16, 2004|By THOMAS D. WILLIAMS; Courant Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — A 60-year-old South Carolina businessman who failed to deliver a machine-parts washer after taking a $123,000 advance from a Durham business, is expected to be sentenced to probation Wednesday if he begins paying back $10,000 in restitution.

William Garomon, of Fripp Island, S.C., accepted accelerated rehabilitation -- a special form of probation -- and standard probation during proceedings in Superior Court Monday for his role in a first-degree larceny from the W.A. Parsons Co. Inc. in Durham. The company, which went out of business in the summer of 2003, washed machine parts and industrial lunch boxes.

The plea deal means that the charge against Garomon will be erased from his record if he repays the former company's owners $10,000, performs 100 hours of community service and successfully completes a period of probation. But Garomon will have to come up with $2,500 of the restitution Wednesday in order to be approved for the rehabilitation program. At that time, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Robert L. Holzberg will decide whether the penalty is appropriate.

Assistant State's Attorney John J. Russotto said Garomon struck a deal with the company to sell it the machine parts washer and took two advance payments worth $123,168 to deliver it. However, in July 1999, when it came time for Garomon to produce the washer, he didn't, Russotto said.

When Garomon asked for another $8,000 up front for the delivery, said Russotto, the company refused to pay. The Parsons company began having financial trouble after the failed deal, and sold out its business to another owner before the machine parts washing operation finally went out of business, said Russotto.

State Public Defender Brian S. Carlow said Garomon paid $6,000 to a subcontractor as part of the deal then ran into financial complications. Representatives of the victimized company did not object to Garomon's receiving probation so long as he complied with all of its conditions, said Carlow.

Russotto said Garomon faces a similar business fraud charge brought by the South Carolina Attorney General in Beaufort County, S.C.